Soccer Monday: USMNT loses to Germany, NWSL playoffs set and Italy’s betting scandal
Kick off your week with all the action from this past weekend
It was a weekend dominated by international games — both friendlies and Euro qualifiers — meaning that Europe’s top leagues did not play.
Those looking for some club action had the NWSL regular season finale to entertain themselves with. It was an exciting finish as eight teams battled for the final four remaining playoff spots.
Here’s a look at what you may have missed:
3. USMNT loses to Germany
A “tale of two halves” may be the most overused phrase in soccer. But the phrase was an apt one for describing the U.S.’s friendly on Saturday against Germany before sellout crowd of 37,705 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn.
The U.S. opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Christian Pulisic avoided five defenders before firing off curling shot from 20 yards out.
Germany responded in the 39th minute as midfielder Leroy Sane showed off solo skills, laying off a pass for Ikay Gündogan who scored on a tap-in from just five yards out.
After a strong U.S. showing in the first half, it was all Germany after the break. Niclas Fullkrug put the four-time World Cup champions ahead in the 58th minute, then assisted on a third goal three minutes later when Jamal Musiala made it 3-1.
“On the three goals, it was a loss of connection in the backline and in the midfield — just overall organization on those three plays let us down a little bit,” USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter said. “Games against opponents like this can’t be that open.”
Overall, Germany had 60% possession and outshot the U.S. 19-6. The Americans close out the October international window on Tuesday when they plays Ghana at Geodis Park in Nashville.
2. NWSL playoffs set
Jaedyn Shaw and Alex Morgan scored on Sunday to lift the San Diego Wave to a 2-0 home win against Racing Louisville — earning the NWSL Shield for best record and the top seed for the playoffs.
The Wave finished 11-7-4 and as top seed have a bye for the opening round of the playoffs.
“It just means the world. We came into this game just acting like, if we we do our job and get a little luck then we’ve got this,” Morgan told reporters. “I feel like we dominated from start to finish. It was really a complete game for this team and I’m really proud of this team.”
Meanwhile, Megan Rapinoe, in her final NWSL season, scored two goals in three minutes at the start of the second half as OL Reign won 3-0 at the Chicago Red Stars and finished fourth. Jess Fishlock added a goal for the Reign in the 59th minute.
Eight teams came into the final day in contention for four remaining playoff spots, with every NWSL game kicking off at the same time. The Reign, North Carolina Courage, Angel City and NJ/NY Gotham secured those final spots.
The NWSL playoffs open on Friday with Gotham at North Carolina. The winner plays at the Portland Thorns on Nov. 5. Angel City is at the Reign in the quarterfinals, also on Friday, with the winner taking on San Diego on Nov. 5. The final will be played on Nov. 11 in San Diego.
1. Another scandal envelops Italian soccer
More than a dozen Serie A players could be implicated in the latest scandal to hit Italian soccer.
Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli and Premier League stars Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo were questioned as part of a probe by prosecutors in Turin into betting online via unauthorized websites.
The Associated Press reported that at least another dozen players could be involved, including a teammate of Fagioli at Juventus.
Tonali and Zaniolo were questioned by police at Italy’s training camp ahead of upcoming European Championship qualifying matches. They subsequently left the national team’s headquarters. All three of the players have had their phones and tablets confiscated. They could face lengthy bans.
“We must make an effort to raise awareness, to talk to young people about these pitfalls, to find a way to make them pay particular attention to what is happening in the world,” Italy manager Luciano Spalletti told reporters.
Following Italy’s 4-0 win at home on Saturday against Malta in Bari, the Azzurri take on England at London’s Wembley Stadium. The Italians need points if they want to maintain any hope of qualifying for this coming summer’s European Championship.
In other news: Gavi’s goal for Spain against Norway in a European Championship qualifier on Sunday was cheered as wildly in Glasgow as it was in Madrid. The Barcelona midfielder’s strike at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo secured a 1-0 win on Sunday that meant both Spain and Scotland qualified for the 2024 Euros. Gavi’s goal came in the 49th minute and ensured the three-time European champions will be at next year’s tournament in Germany when they will be among the favorites to lift the trophy. … Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will play a pair of friendlies against Chinese Super League teams, first in Qingdao against Qingdao Hainiu on Nov. 5 and then against Chengdu Rongcheng in Chengdu on Nov. 8. Those two stadiums can both hold between 50,000 and 60,000 fans. The dates coincide with the first round of the MLS playoffs. Inter Miami was eliminated from playoff contention earlier this month. … Alexia Putellas overtook Jenni Hermoso to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer, netting the only goal in Sunday's 1-0 Liga F win against Atletico Madrid. Putellas converted a Patri Guijarro cross in the 51st minute to take her total for the club to 182 goals in 404 appearances.